BetterDictation: A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application. Otter.ai: Real-time meeting transcription, summaries and conversational AI search Here's where each one pulls ahead on pricing, features, and the meetings it suits best.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist BetterDictation when dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps matters most, and Otter.ai when note-taking for interviews and lectures matters most. Test each on your own meetings; the right choice tends to become obvious quickly.
A macOS speech-to-text app that uses on-device Whisper to turn spoken words into typed text in any application.
Real-time meeting transcription, summaries and conversational AI search
BetterDictation is a system-wide dictation tool for macOS that converts speech into typed text inside any application. Users trigger it with a keyboard shortcut (Option+Space) and can choose push-to-talk or toggle-to-talk modes; the transcribed text is then inserted directly where the cursor sits. It runs OpenAI's Whisper model locally on Apple's Neural Engine, so basic transcription works fully offline and, per the vendor, no audio recordings or transcripts are stored. It supports 100+ languages and applies automatic punctuation. The app requires Apple Silicon (M1 or newer); Intel Macs are not supported. An optional Pro add-on adds stammer correction, automatic formatting, and post-processing of dictations. It is aimed at people who write or capture text frequently, such as founders, engineers, and writers, who want to dictate emails, documents, notes, and messages rather than type them. Because it works across all apps, it can be used to capture spoken notes alongside meetings, though it is a general dictation utility rather than a dedicated meeting-recording assistant.
Best suited for
Otter.ai joins Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams calls to transcribe them live, identify speakers, and generate summaries with action items. The free Basic plan includes 300 transcription minutes per month; paid plans raise the minute cap, allow longer meetings, and add advanced AI workflows and team features. Otter integrates with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zapier, and offers an MCP server for AI assistants.
Best suited for
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades (paid); Otter.ai is from $8.33/mo (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | BetterDictation | Otter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | System-wide dictation that inserts text into any macOS application | Live transcription |
| Standout feature | On-device transcription using OpenAI's Whisper on Apple's Neural Engine | Speaker ID |
| Team usage | Offline operation for basic dictation with no cloud round-trips | AI summaries |
| Integrations | Support for 100+ languages with automatic punctuation | CRM integrations |
| Languages & capture | Push-to-talk and toggle-to-talk recording modes | Live transcription |
| Best-fit workflow | Optional Pro post-processing: stammer correction and automatic formatting | Speaker ID |
BetterDictation
Choose BetterDictation if you need dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps — strengths include runs locally on-device for privacy; vendor states no audio or transcripts are stored.
Otter.ai
Choose Otter.ai if you need live transcription you can read during the meeting — strengths include free plan with 300 transcription minutes per month.
BetterDictation
Otter.ai
It depends on your workflow. BetterDictation is strong for dictating emails, documents, and notes hands-free across mac apps, while Otter.ai is strong for live transcription you can read during the meeting. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
BetterDictation is a free tier with paid upgrades and Otter.ai is from $8.33/mo. Check each vendor's pricing page for the latest plans and free-tier limits.
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary.
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